MIT’s fall from fourth to seventh place in this year’s U.S. News and World Report college ranking was driven in part by changes in how MIT defines and computes class sizes. Corrections in how MIT reports its entering class’s SAT scores also contributed to the drop.

The Massachusetts State Police continue to investigate last week’s Charles River accident involving a block of sodium. No suspects have yet been named in the investigation, and MIT has only been associated with the event by Boston media sources who speculate that the traditional East Campus sodium drop caused the injuries.

A bedbug problem that has been plaguing Ashdown since last spring is close to being resolved. An exterminator contracted to MIT has been visiting rooms several times a week over the course of the summer, and sticky-trap style bug monitors newly installed in each room show no sign of new activity.

This is the final interview in a seven-part series introducing incoming students to some of MIT’s faculty, staff, and student leaders. Today, The Tech interviews Martin F. Holmes ’08, president of the Undergraduate Association. Holmes talks about the UA and his goals for the upcoming year.